WORRIED. STACEY. ABIGAIL. THANK YOU. RIGHT NOW, A FORMER IOWA RADIO HOST KNOWN AS THE MOUTH OF THE MIDWEST FACES NEW ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD. MARTY TERRELL FACES 11 FEDERAL FRAUD CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH AN ALLEGED TICKET SCAM. INVESTIGATORS SAY FROM FEBRUARY OF 2024 TO JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, HE TOOK MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION FROM MULTIPLE INVESTORS. HE ALLEGEDLY TOLD THEM HE WOULD BUY HIGH DEMAND SPORTS AND CONCERT TICKETS AND SELL THEM AT A PROFIT. INSTEAD. INVESTIGATORS SAY HE USED THE MONEY FOR GAMBLING, PERSONAL EXPENSES AND TO REPAY INVESTORS FOR EARLIER PAYMENTS. TERRELL WAS ALREADY ON SUPERVISED RELEASE FOR A NEARLY IDENTICAL SCAM. HE PLEADED GUILTY TO TEN FEDERAL CHARGES IN 2019. HE WAS SENTENCED TO NEARLY FOUR YEARS IN PRISON AND ORDERED TO REPAY $1.4 MILLION TO THOSE VICTIMS. TERRELL WAS ARRESTED MONDAY. HE HAS PLEAD
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Former Des Moines radio host Marty Tirrell charged with wire fraud
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Updated: 6:09 PM CDT Oct 24, 2025
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Marty Tirrell, a former Des Moines radio host, has been charged by a federal grand jury with wire fraud.Court documents show Tirrell allegedly stole money from investors as part of a "ticket flipping" scheme between February 2024 and January 2025. Tirrell allegedly told investors he would use connections in the sports and entertainment industries to gain access to tickets for high-demand sporting events and concerts, then resell them for a higher profit. In total, investors sustained a combined loss of $1.5 million, according to court documents. Tirrell allegedly used a majority of the money for gambling and personal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to start Dec. 1.Tirrell was previously convicted of mail fraud in 2019, for which he served three months in prison.» Subscribe to KCCI's YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
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<strong class="dateline">DES MOINES, Iowa —</strong> Marty Tirrell, a former Des Moines radio host, has been charged by a federal grand jury with wire fraud.
Court documents show Tirrell allegedly stole money from investors as part of a “ticket flipping” scheme between February 2024 and January 2025. Tirrell allegedly told investors he would use connections in the sports and entertainment industries to gain access to tickets for high-demand sporting events and concerts, then resell them for a higher profit.
In total, investors sustained a combined loss of $1.5 million, according to court documents. Tirrell allegedly used a majority of the money for gambling and personal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to start Dec. 1.
Tirrell was previously convicted of mail fraud in 2019, for which he served three months in prison.
» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
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